Get moving on training! THE SUBSIDY facility of the MITB Forwarding & Clearing is total under-utilised because companies see this activity merely as a social cost and not a competitive advantage, says chairman Hennie Richards.
Addressing the forum which the MITB held at Kempton Park, last week, he criticised the industry in general for not taking advantage of the training courses offered.
Explaining that MITB F&C had massed more than R5 million from their R2 levy stamp on companies and was left in the embarrasing position of sitting on the money without anywhere to spend it, he said: If the work and endeavours of our industry training board is to be regarded as a purely social effort, the MITB F&C will not contribute to strengthening this country's economy because it would have lost sight of its primary function which is towards building capacity in our people.
Unless the MITB as a whole and the F&C sector in particular, is regarded as a means to create a competitive advantage for employers who now find themselves thrust into the global arena, not the village, it will degenerate into an ill-conceived, charitable institution and eventually become disrespected by the very recipients of its charity. To Page 6 From page1 He gave four possible reasons why the subsidy facility is being under-utilised.
1. Industry is too Ôunderemployed' to be able to afford the time to release staff for courses; 2. Companies are using the facilities offered by non-accredited providers; 3. Companies are using accredited courses but are not submitting subsidy applications; 4. Companies are simply not interested in training because they perceive this activity merely as a social cost and not an investment to develop a competitive advantage.
He pointed out that as the only African representative on the advisory board of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders (FIATA), MITB F&C was in a position to meet future as well as present-day training needs provided employers took part in determining future industry needs.
No fewer than 14 courses had been awarded MITB F&C accreditation, ensuring the necessary skills and knowledge to perform in a variety of critical areas in the industry, he said. What was needed at this stage was development where gaps had been identified.
The decision of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders to take ownership of the industry-specific courses is a positive step for our industry. SAAFF is placed in the best position possible to ensure that such training is available at all centres without disruption of services, leaving us free to concentrate on making sure that what has been accredited on paper is delivered in practice. One of the new initiatives taken during the past year was to integrate the training being offered to customs officials and F&C industry employees, he said.
I am pleading for a renewed understanding of the basis upon which we all believe the MITB F&C is entitled to exist. Despite the green papers on skills development, the trade union rhetoric or the employer tub thumping, we will not be promoting the long term future of any employees within our industry if we are not motivated by a desire to compete in the global arena and win, together with our employees, not without them or despite them.
